Belkin router problem

My Belkin router isn't working. It isn't working with the Internet. It sometimes does, but only for about an hour, then it goes again. I'm directly plugged into the modem now and we've just had the engineers in from my ISP to have a look at the modem and they found no problems with it. The make of the router is F5D8233-4v3. The version is 3000x.

There's a solution that solves most problems with Belkin routers; it's commonly known as a "dustbin" or "garbage can", depending on where you're from... Seriously, these things are bad, we had one and it was total crap. If your connection is fine when plugged directly into the modem then bin the router (you can try pushing the "reset" button first if you want, this clears everything from the router and requires you to re-enter all of your settings, but it sounds like what usually happens to Belkin stuff has happened and it is finished), if the problems persist then it's your connection.

There's a solution that solves most problems with Belkin routers; it's commonly known as a "dustbin" or "garbage can", depending on where you're from... Seriously, these things are bad, we had one and it was total crap. If your connection is fine when plugged directly into the modem then bin the router (you can try pushing the "reset" button first if you want, this clears everything from the router and requires you to re-enter all of your settings, but it sounds like what usually happens to Belkin stuff has happened and it is finished), if the problems persist then it's your connection.

Unfortunately I have to agree with this statement. All Belkin routers that I have heard of have gone bad pretty quickly. They're one of the worst makes you can buy at the moment. I suggest replacing it with something a little better, like Linksys or D-Link. They seem to get the best ratings these days.

The only thing you could try before changing it is a firmware update, and see if that helps anything.

Also, is your connection ADSL? Try setting the Idle timeout to "Always on" and see if that helps, if its not already set to that.

Make sure it has good ventilation. If you have papers stacked on top of it or it's in a cabinet or carpet you might have overheating problems, which will also make the hardware not last as long. If you start having the problem again and have to buy a new one, I would recommend (if you aren't afraid of a little tinkering) that you buy a Linksys WRT54GS and load DD-WRT on it. They cost a little more than the WRT54G but they have twice the RAM. Even the micro distribution of DD-WRT takes up 95% of the RAM right after it's booted on a WRT54G, which is why I suggest WRT54GS to people. Check out http://www.dd-wrt.com/ for more info on DD-WRT.

Make sure it has good ventilation. If you have papers stacked on top of it or it's in a cabinet or carpet you might have overheating problems, which will also make the hardware not last as long. If you start having the problem again and have to buy a new one, I would recommend (if you aren't afraid of a little tinkering) that you buy a Linksys WRT54GS and load DD-WRT on it. They cost a little more than the WRT54G but they have twice the RAM. Even the micro distribution of DD-WRT takes up 95% of the RAM right after it's booted on a WRT54G, which is why I suggest WRT54GS to people. Check out http://www.dd-wrt.com/ for more info on DD-WRT.

I have the GL version but despite this I'd still say go for DD-WRT. Its very powerful and totally stable in my experience. I've not once encountered a crash.